The dried and cut root was traditionally gently boiled in water for about fifteen minutes, then filtered before consumption. This preparation, passed down by eclectic herbalists, requires professional advice before any use, as the safety margin is not clearly established. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
The root was sometimes macerated in alcohol according to the traditional methods of American eclectic practitioners, to obtain a concentrated preparation with longer shelf life. The use of this tincture absolutely requires the supervision of a professional trained in medicinal plants. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
This plant grows spontaneously in the woodlands and ravines of eastern North America; it is rarely cultivated in Europe and is mainly found, in dried root form, at a few herbalist shops specializing in North American plants.
The root is traditionally harvested in autumn, once the plant has entered dormancy, a period when its reserves are considered richest.